***Book Discussion Guide available***  Cicero, the old library cat is more than he seems -- an elder Guardian charged with protecting an ancient book of power. Buried in a secret chamber, the book is a magnet for attracting the wrong kind of attention. Painfully aware his days are numbered, Cicero is troubled by the fact that he has found no successor. Marco, a house cat alone in the world for the first time, finds refuge in the public library, a suitable home for an orange tabby gifted with the ability to read. But an unlimited amount of reading time is not young Marco's destiny. You might think this is just a story about cats, but it's really a story about power. The attraction, addiction and abuse of power. It's also about the power of words and ideas. Conveying these serious themes is a loosely organized fellowship of cats, a magical book, an evil professor, angelic creatures, mythological demons, a hyperactive ferret, and three gangster raccoons. With the burning of the legendary Library of Alexandria as the story's point of departure, Guardian Cats offers a fictionalized version of this tragic event. Escaping with a bagful of books and an armful of cats, the last librarian places each book in a safe haven... with a cat to guard it. Guardian Cats, a historical fantasy, can be read on several levels. For ages 9 to adult. Both entertaining and thought provoking, the story deals with very human concerns about loyalty, courage, and the overwhelming odds against becoming a hero.